Enric Mas (Movistar) had arguably his strongest day as he pulled away from the other GC contenders on the approach to the Sierra Nevada summit finish on the final stage of the Vuelta a España.

Mas finished second on stage 15 after forming a precarious alliance with a breakaway group and former teammate Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana Cazacustan). His attack on the flattest section of the climb considerably strengthened his grip on third place overall over his closest rivals Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) and Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers).

Similarly, Mas, whose performance varied on Saturday's climb to La Pandera, was 21 seconds ahead of Primoš Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) and 36 seconds ahead of race leader Remco Evenpole (Quick Step-Alfavinil), the two GC The two riders cut into the advantage of the leaders in GC.

An attack by Mas allowed him to catch up to Lopez two-up, supported at one point by his Colombian teammate David de la Cruz.

However, when de la Cruz faded out, the subsequent collaboration between Mas and Miguel Angel Lopez was not completely fluid. Some media outlets were quick to cite López's dramatic exit from the Vuelta, and ultimately from Movistar, on the second day last year after tensions rose with Mas as joint team leader.

There were unconfirmed reports that Lopez strongly urged the two to work together in the Sierra Nevada breakaway, but Mas's cooperation certainly came too late to ensure Lopez's stage win contention, which was stolen by Tyment Arensmann (DSM).

Lopez himself denied that there were any unresolved issues when asked by the Colombian media whether his escape with Mas was "important." He replied, "We are all fighting together."

Although he did not mention the events of last year's Vuelta, Mas admitted that their cooperation was not ideal. Because I was going for the overall and he was going for the stage, but at the same time I wanted to work with him to make time," he said.

"I think maybe we both held things back a little bit because we thought the other one was actually stronger. That's what cycling is about, sometimes you have to be smart."

Mas also got around wisely on the lower slopes of the Sierra Nevada and the brutally steep sections of the Hazariñas.

But Mass did not panic: "I took things steady and went at my own pace. [so] I'm happy."

Regarding his second-place finish ahead of the other GC favorites, Mas said, "It's only by a few seconds. The important thing is that I'm happy with how I'm feeling."

"I'm happy with how I'm feeling.

"I've always said I'll take it one day at a time and I have to keep dreaming all the way to Madrid. I have to keep dreaming all the way to Madrid. But I'm enjoying the race and feeling confident."